“On a good day, they can beat players like Humphries and Littler” – Max Hopp names Germany’s next Premier League hopefuls

Germany’s wait for a true breakthrough name in darts continues, but Max Hopp believes the next Premier League Darts contender is already emerging.

Back on the PDC Pro Tour after several years away, Hopp is looking at both his own resurgence and the wider picture in German darts. Speaking to Viaplay, he pointed to two names he believes are closest to making the leap.

“I think it will be between Martin Schindler and Niko Springer,” Hopp said. “They have the scoring power, and on a good day, they can beat players like Luke Humphries and Luke Littler.”

Schindler, currently the highest-ranked German on the Order of Merit, appears the most immediate candidate. But Hopp’s assessment goes beyond rankings, focusing instead on the level required to compete with the sport’s elite.

The conversation comes against the backdrop of the Premier League night in Berlin, a fixture Hopp still sees as one of the standout events in the calendar. “The Premier League is always a fantastic event. The eight best players belong there,” he said, while also acknowledging the annual debate around selection. “You can always discuss names that are in or out, like James Wade or Danny Noppert this year.”

For Hopp, what separates the Premier League from the rest is not just the stage, but the format itself. “Someone like Josh Rock shows great things on the European Tour and on the floor, but in the Premier League, there seems to be some kind of block. While a player like Jonny Clayton always seems to raise his level there.”

That contrast, he suggests, underlines just how unique the environment is.

Hopp has experienced it first-hand. As a contender, he once faced Raymond van Barneveld in front of a sold-out crowd of around 12,000. “I also knew what was at stake. If I had beaten him that night, it would have had big consequences for his position.” “The crowd is three times bigger than at a Euro Tour. You stand there and think: this really is a different level.”

That jump is as much mental as it is physical. “The walk-on is amazing, you enjoy it. But after that, you have to switch immediately. You look around the entire arena, get nine ‘practice darts’, and then it starts.”

“You are still full of adrenaline and impressions, but you have to be focused straight away," he adds. "That applies to everyone, no matter how much experience you have.”

Despite a growing pool of Tour Card holders, Germany is yet to produce a major winner, and Hopp admits there is no simple explanation. “It’s difficult to say why that is. If we knew the answer, we would have changed it already,” he said, before pointing to areas that still need improvement. “We have to be critical of ourselves. In matches, we need to show more resilience.”

He also highlights the standard set by other nations. “Look at the Netherlands, with players like Michael van Gerwen and that new generation. That is simply a higher level.”

There is also a psychological barrier at play. “The first German to win a major will gain a special status. That can motivate, but it can also be a block. You feel that pressure.”

Behind Schindler and Springer, Hopp sees depth, but not yet a Premier League-ready group. “A strong group, but not yet at Premier League level.”

Alongside his assessment of the German scene, Hopp is also focused on his own climb back up the rankings. “The past year was good. I qualified for the World Championship again and also won a match there. That was important for me, to show that I’m still here.”

His performances are trending in the right direction. “My averages are now consistently around 90. In February, I even hit a nine-darter.”

For now, the targets are clear. “I’m currently around 70th in the world rankings. My goal is to move towards the top 64 and top 50.”

What has changed most is his mindset. “I don’t have a crystal ball, but I’m motivated to get everything out of it. I want to get the very best out of myself. Then we’ll see where that ends.”